Seeking advice

[Dodo]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the forum and am looking for a bit of advice.

I have a 4 yr old blue and gold macaw who i love dearly. I bought him from a breeder and hand fed until he was able to eat real food.

He's a very good boy and can say a things like, "hi", "how are you?", "step up", "Hi Birdo", "Help","what cha doing?", and a few not so nice things (curse words). Did i mention that he clucks like a chicken?

Anywho, the reason I'm here is because i'm considering getting rid of him. I feel like he does not get the attention he deserves. He's locked up in his cage for the most part (due to me being at work) and it breaks my heart. Whenever I have time, i try to take him to pet stores and have him out to play with him.

I am hesitant on getting rid of him b/c of what I hear birds do (pluck their feathers, etc). I was even considering donating him to a zoo so he could have other birds around and be taken care of (unfortunately, they were not taking in new animals).

I guess for anyone who has had a bird before and had to rehome them, what is the best way to do this? How do most birds handle the change? Am I better off keeping him? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[roxynoodle]

Well, I used to work full time until I got sick with a bad disease and had to go on disability. My birds of course were happiest when I was home, but they seemed to do ok. They had plenty of toys to entertain them, and once I was home, they were out of their cages. Even when I had to grade tests or do lesson plans, they were just happy that I was there. I did spend the majority of my time home in the room where they were. So if your bird seems happy with the time it has with you, I would keep him.

If you do decide to rehome, make sure you have several conversations with the person(s) who are interested. If you can make a home visit, that's a good idea as well. It isn't too hard to figure out who knows birds and who really doesn't have the right experience if you ask a lot of questions.

If you rehome him with someone here, you can read their posts and get a good idea of who you are dealing with.

I have 2 recent birds that I have adopted. My Grey came from someone who posted here to rehome her. I talked to them over the phone many, many times, and we exchanged a lot of emails as well.

Don't give your bird to someone who doesn't "feel right".

 

[mtdoramike]

Where are you located? If you want to list him for rehoming, I would suggest putting a post in the rehoming forum. Now, after saying this, I also would like to know what has changed in your lifestyle from the time that you received your bird until present that makes you feel guilty about not spending as much time with him?

To me, it's never in the best interest of the animal to rehome them. No matter what the situation is to a degree, which would be failing health and unable to care for them, financial hardship where it's you eat or they eat to name a few instances that I personally feel are good reasons.

Birds are very adaptable and will adapt to their environment a lot easier than you think. There are several reasons why birds pluck that have nothing to do with neglect or lack of attention. Some birds do it out of boredom and it becomes a habit while others do it because of medical reasons. To minimize this, have plent of foraging toys in their cage to keep them busy, leave a TV on or radio so that they have a distraction.

But please don't rehome your bird because you think it's best for the bird. I'm sure if the bird had a say in this, he would rather spend a limited amount of time with you than a lot of time with someone else, especially if he's bonded with you.

 

[BillsBirds]

I have taken in many birds, and re-homed many birds, in my 40 or so years of bird rescue. If at all possible, keep him! Birds adjust to your schedule better than you think. Since you are the only home he has known, "getting rid of him", (how I hate that phrase), is going to be traumatic. To you both!! Of course, he'll adjust, if he has to. But, try to keep him. Give him more toys, better quality time with you when you can, and things will work out. We all work, have families that take our time & attention, and other commitments. Our birds are doing okay. He doesn't need you 24/7. Just as much as you can. He also needs time by himself. Please really think about this. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[lene1949]

He'll be much better off, if you keep him... He'll adjust to your new schedule...

I work 12 hour shifts, and Max will come out, have a shower with me, and then fly around, to and from me, and the rest of the house for about 2 hours, until it's time for me to go... He'll also come out for about an hour before going to bed...

When I'm on night shifts he'll have more time outside the cage...

 

[roxynoodle]

If your bird isn't showing you he's unhappy, I would keep him. He probably does what my birds used to do when I was working. They would be up with me early in the morning, and then they probably took naps while I was at work, and then would be up with me until 9pm or so when I went to bed as well. You can take him into the bathroom with you while you shower and get ready in the morning.

I also eat in my front room where the birds are, but I'm single. If you have a family, you probably want to eat at your kitchen table. But, you can take him into the kitchen with you during dinner as well. And keep him with you and your family while you watch TV or use the computer or work on hobbies if they aren't dangerous (ok, I make furniture, so I don't have them with me while table saws are running, etc). They really do seem happy just to have their person(s) around even if you aren't petting or playing with them every moment.